Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Government Of, By, and For the Oligarchs

Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. ~ Abraham Lincoln

What a funny little government.

For a week now I've tried to understand the thinking behind the Senate's health care bill. The effect on the people would be horrible. The effect on the health care industry, doctors, hospitals, and HMOs, would be even worse. Literally, the only beneficiaries would be a few dozen ultra-rich oligarchs who stand to profit from tax cuts and financial upheaval. No government of, by, and for the people would ever dream of such a thing.

Supporters of TrumpCare in Congress are making claims that are both cynical and fanciful, claims even they cannot be deluded enough to believe.

If we assume that Congressional Republicans are not all blithering imbeciles with the IQs of radishes and the morals of bedbugs sucking your blood while you sleep, what could possibly be their motivation?

The only answer that makes sense is that they are the willing vassals of a handful of oligarchs. Their motives are not to do what is best for the United States or its people but to exclusively serve the very, very rich. They probably even think they are being honest in that they are following the orders of the people who own them.

An honest politician is one who when he is bought will stay bought. ~ Simon Cameron, a Republican politician in the 19th century noted for his open corruption.

The oligarchs offer Republican congressmen wealth and power and all they demand in return is total loyalty.